Things to Do When the Weather Is Bad

The Turks and Caicos is typically blessed with exquisite sunny days and warm balmy temperatures, and has one of the lowest average number of rainy days of any Caribbean country, yet there are times when the rain clouds roll in and wind speeds are high. If Grace Bay Beach is a little too choppy for your tastes, consider these other activities and attractions on and around Providenciales.

When consulting the weather forecast, keep in mind that there’s typically less rain experienced than what’s predicted. When planning water sports such as snorkelling, diving, or paddle boarding, it’s better to look at the wind forecast, as breezy days may result in choppy water conditions. Wind speeds under 15mph (24kph) are best for most water activities.

The Crossing Place Trail on Middle Caicos during rough ocean conditions.

Day Trip to Another Island

Providenciales is the main island for tourism in the Turks and Caicos, yet we have many other islands as well, all of which are quieter and less developed. If discovering a wide array of natural and historical sights sounds like a great way to spend the day, then a day trip can be perfect for an overcast day.

It’s fun and easy to visit North Caicos and Middle Caicos, South Caicos, Salt Cay, and Grand Turk for a day. Simply reserve your ferry or flight, book a rental car, and decide which sights you want to explore.

North Caicos and Middle Caicos is generally our top choice for several different reasons; it’s simple to catch the ferry, both islands are connected by a road causeway, there are several car rental companies to choose from, and there’s a wide selection of beaches and attractions across the two islands.

Cheshire Hall Plantation

The Turks and Caicos has had an interesting history, with the first permanent settlement in the archipelago centring around sea salt production on Grand Turk, Salt Cay, and South Caicos, but the larger and more verdant Caicos Islands supported a different industry – cotton planting.

This later 1700s Loyalist industry brought the construction of expansive plantations, and at the height of the period there were dozens of elaborate farms, with names such as Belleview, Lorimers, and St. James.

Today, only three plantation sites are open for tourism, Cheshire Hall on Providenciales, Wade’s Green on North Caicos, and Haulover on Middle Caicos. All of these sites only have ruins now, but it’s interesting to tour the grounds and see the remains of the great houses, kitchens, field walls, slave quarters and warehouses.

Blue Hills Road, which fronts the oldest settlement on Providenciales, is reminiscent of some of the southern Caribbean islands, with coconut palms, colourful buildings, and small handmade fishing boats.

Our Smaller Attractions

There are several smaller interesting attractions on Providenciales that can be visited in an afternoon.

The Turk’s Head Brewery Tour is fascinating, and exhibits an efficient microbrewery in operation. The onsite taproom bar is great for sampling the various flavours, including unique brews and seasonal specials, and the front shop is the cheapest place in the country to buy beer! The brewery is indoors, which is perfect when it’s raining.

The Hole in Long Bay Hills is another amazing site. This natural feature was formed by the Karst Process of dissolution, and was previously a large cave before the ceiling collapsed previous to recorded history. If you’re interested in caves, we have Conch Bar Caves on the island of Middle Caicos, which is one of the largest dry cave systems in the Caribbean, and the Ocean Hole, the widest blue hole in the world!

On a small bluff overlooking Chalk Sound, Sapodilla Bay, and South Dock are the Sapodilla Hill Rock Carvings. These inscriptions were left in large rocks and the limestone bedding by sailors and travellers in past centuries, and exhibit dates, ships names, outlines of vessels and buildings. Unfortunately, vandalism and abuse has greatly diminished these historical artefacts, yet the views are still beautiful. Please take care not to step on any of the inscriptions, and please don’t graffiti.

Another idea is the National Museum and Heritage Site in Grace Bay. The Turks and Caicos has had a small yet select museum on the island of Grand Turk for decades, and now ground breaking has taken place for a museum branch on Providenciales as well. Currently the main exhibit of the Providenciales branch of the National Museum focuses on an outdoor replica of a post plantation-era home and garden, and is essentially a small living museum. There’s also a cannon, outdoor exhibits on the Caicos Sloop, and centuries-old anchors.